The Emerald of Sigma Pi Fraternityhttps://theemerald.org
A Quest for Excellence
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 19:17:18 +0000 en-US
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.183896150Sigma Pi and Licensed Vendorshttps://theemerald.org/2019/01/14/sigma-pi-and-licensed-vendors/
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 00:53:52 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2796At Sigma Pi, we’ve partnered with over 200 licensed vendors to bring you the best selection of branded items from your Fraternity. A licensed vendor agrees to work with Sigma Pi to ensure proper use of our trademarks, to sell high-quality products at reasonable prices, and to offer good customer service. In exchange, vendors are given the approval to manufacture and sell products in association with our organization.

Our members play an important role in the success of the licensing program. Licensed vendors will place a special seal on all items bearing our trademarks. Members who buy products with this special seal can do so with confidence, knowing that Sigma Pi has approved the product. In addition, chapters and members can support the program by having custom items produced only by licensed vendors.

Click here to locate an always up-to-date list of officially
licensed vendors and a marketplace of licensed products. If you would like to nominate to a vendor to become
licensed with our organization, please send their company information to vendors@greeklicensing.com.

This issue of the Sigma Pi Quarterly marks the second year of publication, and we hope that it has been a valuable resource for our alumni and friends, to stay updated on the advancements within Sigma Pi. With nearly 30,000 quarterly readers, we thank you for your continued enthusiasm in our efforts to provide a safe, transformative and value-added experience for members to grow, both personally and professionally. As we look to 2019, there are several exciting initiatives that are currently evolving and have already transpired as we enter a new year that I would like to share with you.

In December of 2018, we launched the rebranding of Sigma Pi in order to enhance our visual identity. This process took several months of research and discussion with both our staff and key volunteers in diverse industries, who specialize in brand recognition. Thanks to these efforts, we have received positive feedback, from undergraduate and alumni members, who see the redefined look as establishing our identity in the Fraternal marketplace. In addition, we have effectively aligned our Fraternity and Foundation, to advocate organizational synergies. This unification is instrumental to our philanthropic initiatives to bolster our educational aspirations – providing a world-class fraternity experience, where men can learn and grow in a spirit of fraternalism.

MYLC 2019 Facilitators

The 2019 Mid Year Leadership Conference, that convened in Kansas City, MO from January 3rd – 6th, marked the first time in the history of the program in which we comprehensively overhauled the educational curriculum. In 2018, we partnered with a professional firm, Plaid, to help us reimagine the program to more effectively provide leadership characteristics training for our undergraduate officers. The reconstructed program allowed our Curriculum Development Task Force, chaired by Matt Smith (Valparaiso ‘01), to capture valuable feedback that will assist in the continued development of undergraduate officer leadership training. In addition, the Task Force is concurrently reimagining the Tony Siress Leadership Summit, that in July 2019, will be transformed to an enhanced Emerging Leaders program. This particular program has been reimagined for rising sophomores and juniors seeking to develop their leadership skills and utilize them within their chapters and the overall campus community. We thank our brand ambassadors who collaborated with our staff in Kansas City to provide advice, mentoring and instruction to our undergraduates – we look forward to your continued support.

Undergraduates analyzing their Birkman Assesment Results at MYLC

In the immediate future, one of the items we are focusing on is the development of an online repository of educational webinars and modules, including but not limited to: Health & Safety Awareness, Membership Education, Pathways to Organizational Success, Senior-To-Alumni Transition, and Financial Planning for Life After College. Over the upcoming 6-24 months we will be investing into readily available educational resources thereby providing our members the opportunity to utilize them in the time frame they require. These educational initiatives are being developed with an emphasis on effectively ensuring a value-added learning experience for our members.

As we assess the horizon, please know that we have already initiated the process as of December 2018, with the introduction of a new Undergraduate Officer Transition learning module for Executive Council members across North America. Further Undergraduate Officer Transition education will be provided on January 31st with the introduction of the Undergraduate Officer Transition webinar. Concurrently, we are on schedule, for summer 2019, to launch a new Volunteer Training Module, that will provide coaching to our volunteers to aid them in understanding how to effectively support our undergraduate members and implement training on the policies that impact Sigma Pi. In addition to these initiatives, this August, we will launch required online training modules for undergraduate members that will cover a variety of Health & Safety topics.

If you would like to support these and other educational programs, please consider a philanthropic gift to our Educational Foundation by visiting http://sigmapiedfund.org/.

John Donne said it better than I ever could – “No Man Is An Island Unto Himself.” Sigma Pi would like to thank PGS Dennis Day for hosting the Alumni Reception in Kansas City, MO during MYLC 2019. Thanks to his philanthropic support, over 30 alumni had the opportunity to enjoy an evening of networking and brotherhood. We look forward to collaborating with other alumni and friends, across the globe to host receptions, as we continue to find opportunities to intersect our supporters and provide updates on what is happening across the Land of Sigma Pi. Years of experience has allowed me to reflect deeper on the context of John Donne’s words – we are only as strong as the people we have engaged and involved with us. Your professional and personal wisdom provides critical and valuable insight, to help us improve as an organization, and ensure our efforts to provide men with a world-class fraternal experience.

If you would be interested in supporting our initiatives by hosting an alumni reception in your city, setting up a CEF, grant, scholarship and/or being involved as a brand ambassador, please contact us at info@sigmapi.org and we would enjoy helping you find the opportunities for you to join in our efforts. Thank you for all that you do to promote and support Sigma Pi. We look forward to meeting you throughout 2019.

]]>2801Sigma Pi Quarterly Recognition – January 2019https://theemerald.org/2019/01/14/sigma-pi-quarterly-recognition-january-2019/
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 23:43:23 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2804Province Archon of the QuarterKevin Carey (Illinois Wesleyan ’09)Kevin is the Illiana Province Archon and recently held a Province Workshop at University of Southern Indiana on Oct. 27, 2018 where the following chapters were in attendance: Alpha (Vincennes), Beta (Indiana), and Theta-Psi (Southern Indiana). The workshop turned out to be a huge success due to Kevin’s leadership and guidance throughout the day. In addition to overseeing the chapters in the Illiana Province, Kevin has dedicated much of his time as an alumni volunteer by assisting at national conferences including Convocation 2018 and MYLC 2019. Kevin’s involvement in the last few months makes him a worthy recipient of Province Archon of the Quarter.

Chapter Director of the QuarterRyan Post (Valparaiso ’09)Ryan has been heavily involved with Beta-Tau to get them back on track. He has assisted the Chapter, especially the Executive Council with laying the foundation of what this Chapter needs to do in order to succeed. He has been focusing on the operations of the Chapter including finances, recruitment, reporting, and planning of events, just to name a few. Ryan has pushed for the Chapter to better their relations on campus and with the Executive Office. Ryan is very passionate about the success of his Chapter and continues to be involved on a regular basis. In addition to his role as CD, he volunteers as an alumni by facilitating at some of our national conferences including Province Workshops and MYLC but hopes to help out at Convocation and SPU. Ryan’s contributions to Beta-Tau has made him a deserving candidate for Chapter Director of the Quarter.

Sage of the QuarterTier 1 – Matthew Comeskey (South Florida ’16)Matthew has served his Chapter as chairman of the New Member Education committee and Chapter Sage. During his time as new member educator, Matthew had inspired 100% of his neophytes to become initiated into the Fraternity. As Matthew begins his second term as Iota-Sigma Sage and with his knowledge gained at MYLC 2019, he plans to lead an even larger recruitment effort and initiate even more men into his younger Chapter (est. 2015). In the previous two years, Iota-Sigma was also able to secure a place to call home; a 4-unit apartment building that sleeps over 20 men. With this new meeting place and leaders like Matthew, the Brotherhood of Iota-Sigma only stands to grow stronger each year.

Tier 2 – Jake Ullerick (Wake Forest ’17)The Sage of this Quarter for Tier 2 belongs to Jake Ullerick of Alpha-Nu Chapter (Wake Forest). Jake and his Chapter have been getting a lot of work done this semester. Whether it was in regard to philanthropy, community service, or recruitment, the Chapter put forward a great amount of effort to be competitive both on campus and nationally. With great leadership, the men of this Chapter are meeting the standard of what it means to be exemplary. With the Spring semester starting up on January 14th for the men of Alpha-Nu, there is also a great amount of anticipation for their Lounge Opening that will be taking place on January 26th, 2019 and will be in honor of PGS Gary B. Tash. Be sure to mark your calendar for the event for a great event and to meet Jake and the rest of the hard working members of Sigma Pi at Wake Forest.

Tier 3 Sage – Mike Heiberger (Valparaiso University ’17)Over the last quarter, Mike has taken the necessary steps to bring his Chapter together to focus on the big picture. He has worked with the entire Chapter to help re-establish Beta-Tau’s brand identity at Valparaiso University through events (brotherhood, philanthropy, and community service) as well as getting the Chapter involved on and off campus. He has been one of the Chapter’s biggest influencers in their vision to become a better Chapter for the future. Over the last quarter, Mike has worked with the Chapter to set attainable goals for the 2018-2019 academic year. With all the great strides being made by Beta-Tau Chapter, Mike has earned the recognition of Tier 3 Sage of the Quarter.

Tier 4 – Francis Raboy (Bridgewater State ’17)Francis is exactly what it means to be a good Sigma Pi and citizen. He is well-liked by all faculty, is very involved on campus and works for the University’s communication team. During my time at Bridgewater, Francis was able to set up an Executive Board meeting so we could chat about the future of Eta-Eta and start planning for the spring. I want to say thank you to Francis and the rest of Eta-Eta for treating me like a brother and not as “the guy from nationals.”

]]>28042018 Year-End Message from the Grand Councilhttps://theemerald.org/2018/12/31/2018-year-end-message-from-the-grand-council/
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 15:26:00 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2787As 2018 comes to a close, there is much to be thankful for in the world of Sigma Pi Fraternity. Here are just a few of the major highlights from 2018.

In 2018, Sigma Pi Fraternity chartered two chapters including the return of a dormant single letter chapter. In February, the Fraternity chartered Iota-Phi Chapter at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Park. Iota-Phi Chapter is the newest chapter of the Fraternity and the 232nd chapter that Sigma Pi has chartered in our history. This was followed in April by the return of Zeta Chapter at Ohio Northern University. Zeta Chapter returned with more than 40 young men joining Sigma Pi Fraternity. In 2019, the Fraternity will continue its current growth efforts at existing colonies located at Plymouth State University, Cal State University – Fresno, Pfeiffer University, Montana State University, and Towson University. In addition, we plan to begin new growth efforts at the University of Maine and Northern Illinois University, among other campuses.

In August, more than 300 brothers, friends, and guests traveled to Niagara Falls, New York to participate in Sigma Pi Fraternity’s 54th Biennial Convocation. Among the highlights of the event were the Grand Sage’s Awards received by the Fraternity’s top four chapters: Tier 4, Eta-Eta Chapter (Bridgewater State); Tier 3, Theta-Rho Chapter (Grand Valley State University); Tier 2, Iota-Tau Chapter (St. John’s University); Tier 1, Omega Chapter (Oregon State University).

Throughout 2018, the Fraternity invested in increasing engagement in all aspects of its communication programming. Most notably, our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts have increased and become more targeted to provide engaging updates to our members. Among these successful communications programs are the Fraternity’s #FlagFriday promotion, which highlights our members proudly displaying our flag at events and locations around the globe. Related to these efforts, the Fraternity started a quarterly e-mail newsletter to provide more up-to-date information for our members.

Another important communication evolution in 2018 was the rollout of the Fraternity’s new brand and logo marks as well as their accompanying standards. The Communications Team researched the branding of our top competitors in the fraternity industry and used that knowledge to breathe new life into Sigma Pi Fraternity’s branding, which was rolled out in December.

These are just a few of the high-level celebratory points for Sigma Pi Fraternity in 2018. There is so much more to celebrate at the local and provincial levels of our organization and we hope that everyone takes some time over the next few days and weeks to reflect on the successful year that is coming to an end. And, of course, there is no time like the present to begin planning for the even more successful year that sits in front of each of us. Good luck in 2019, everyone!

]]>2787Sigma Pi: A New Visual Identityhttps://theemerald.org/2018/12/18/sigma-pi-a-new-visual-identity/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:29:30 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2774On July 19, 2017, the Grand Council of Sigma Pi Fraternity and the Board of Trustees for the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation announced a staff sharing agreement under Executive Director Jonathan Frost (UMSL ’99), where the organizations agreed to share the services, time, and efforts of the Executive Office.

Once the agreement was established, ED Frost directed the Executive Office’s communications team to begin the process of reimagining the Fraternity and Foundation’s branding to align the two entities under one visual identity.

The team sought out many proposals from design groups with a strong knowledge and understanding of the fraternity and sorority industry, though the conversations never led to a fruitful outcome. After much deliberation between the communications team, it was determined that this was pertinent to do in-house, where the team already had the proficiency and understanding of the Fraternity’s history to handle the project and create a visual identity that paid homage to the past while moving into the future.

After much discussion, and with extensive research and historical knowledge, the project was completed, and a new visual identity for the Fraternity was born.

One of the most important changes lies in the new color scheme.

While the previous colors of the Fraternity served us well, a reimagined color palette was necessary. The bright purple was altered to a sleeker, darker shade that will allow for a finer contrast with the other colors within the palette. The light gray offsets the darker purple while gold serves as the auxiliary. The secondary colors are as follows: lavender, alt black, emerald, and oval blue.

The newly redesigned Sigma Pi logomark is made up of two core components: the emblem and the wordmark.

The emblem takes key elements of the organization and creates a strong statement. The primary element of the emblem is the Radiant Triangle. The Greek cross is situated below the Radiant Triangle, with a line on either side. The two lines symbolize the unity of the Fraternity and Foundation in a contemporary sense while paying homage to our founding organization Tau Phi Delta, as well as Delta Kappa, a fraternity that merged with Sigma Pi in 1964.

The main wordmark of Sigma Pi represents the strength and boldness of the Fraternity by using the Gotham typeface. The wordmark no longer includes “Fraternity, International” as a prominent element, allowing the Fraternity’s recognizable name to stand on its own. Additionally, dropping the secondary elements of the name allow this new logomark to represent both the Fraternity and the Foundation through the established shared direction for the betterment of the organization.

As Sigma Pi makes it a continued effort to facilitate better brand recognition, the logomark or wordmark with Sigma Pi spelled out will be the primary identifier used throughout marketing efforts. However, the Greek letters may be used as a secondary mark, or on apparel items specific to Sigma Pi.

Additionally, as the rebrand of the Fraternity institutes a modernization of the imagery of Sigma Pi, the Coat of Arms, or the Crest, is no exception. Just as other Greek letter organizations have done, Sigma Pi has taken a modernized and clean approach to the Crest.

While the Fraternity’s visual identity changes, the style guidelines for efficiently maintaining a standard text style have been updated. The most notable change is in reference to an individual’s chapter designation, whereas previously the brother’s graduation year was listed with their chapter designation, now, the initiate year will be listed. This alleviates the issue surrounding the lack of graduate dates for a number of brothers, as well as aligns the proper date with alumni initiates. These changes can be found as part of the Style Guidelines on page 11.

Lastly, the logo can be modified for use with the chapter or colony’s designation. Alumni clubs and provinces may also use the logo with modification of their association name. When adding a designation, the wordmark aspect of the logo will shift upward, offsetting the icon to allow space for the designation. Each chapter, colony, alumni club, and province will be provided a version of the logo custom to their group.

A “Brand Guidelines” document has been developed, and is available on the Sigma Pi website at sigmapi.org/brand. This guide has been developed to aid in the use and property recognition of the brand and visual identity of Sigma Pi.

We look forward to the future with our new brand identity as we continue on our quest for excellence.

]]>2774James Keene (Cornell ’54) Obituaryhttps://theemerald.org/2018/10/22/james-keene-cornell-54-obituary/
Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:16:48 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2759Editors note – This article was originally published in the New York Times.

KEENE–James H, III, passed away Wednesday, October 17, at home, in peace, surrounded by his immediate family in Omaha, Nebraska. For over 60 years, Jim Keene lived the Sigma Pi creed both as a stellar supporter of Mu Chapter, Cornell University and as a civic leader in his community. After pledging in the fall of 1953, Jim served with dedication, devotion, and passion in order not only to establish Mu Chapter as a strong organization but to complement its stability in both housing and scholarship funding. Jim served as president of Mu Chapter’s alumni board over 21 years. In 2014, he was presented with the Founders Award, Sigma Pi’s highest honor. Jim served for 32 years with Peter Kiewit Sons Inc, and managed Humboldt Specialty Manufacturing Company. He was an active director of Mu Chapter’s alumni board and the Mu Chapter Educational Foundation. Memorial contributions can be made to Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876 P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876

]]>2759Quarterly Recognition – October 2018https://theemerald.org/2018/10/12/quarterly-recognition-october-2018/
Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:29:32 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2749Province Archon of the Quarter
Ian Wolf (Rutgers ’12)
Ian overlooks all of the Sigma Pi New Jersey chapters and has proven to be a great leader to them all. He always makes sure that his groups are submitting reports in a timely manner as well as being positive role models at their respective institutions. In addition, Ian has worked to establish better alumni relationships for each chapter by working with alumni clubs and housing corporations. Ian has set a lot of goals for his groups and hopes to bring the Grand Sage Cup back to New Jersey.

Chapter Director of the Quarter
Larry Moyer (East Stroudsburg ’62)
Beta-Psi recently got suspended from the school for missing 1 IFC meeting. Larry believed that the punishment did not fit the crime. When Larry heard about this he drove straight down to ESU and did not leave campus until he talked to an administrator and got an explanation. Larry is very passionate and dedicated about the Fraternity and wants the best for the Chapter.

Sage of the Quarter
Tier 1 – Logan Fuqua (Kentucky ’17)
Logan became the Sage of the Epsilon-Beta Chapter at a very unique time. The Chapter at the University of Kentucky recently rechartered within the last two years. The Chapter returned to their original house, and have begun to fundraise and draft new plans for house renovations and upgrades. However, Epsilon-Beta is still a “new” Chapter in the eyes of the student body.
He understands the need for his Chapter to be involved and noticed on campus in order to rebuild the reputation Epsilon-Beta once had. Logan placed emphasis on fall recruitment and knew this semester’s new members would be imperative to improve the image of the Chapter. Epsilon-Beta needed to recruit additional manpower to have the human resources to compete with many of UK’s largest chapters. Logan led many of the recruitment presentations himself, and with his two rush co-chairs. His efforts helped inspire the Chapter to recruit one of the largest pledge classes on Kentucky’s campus, at 26 men.

Tier 2 – Noah Green (SIU-Carbondale ’16)
Noah Green, current Sage of Beta-Nu Chapter, will be wrapping up the second half of his term at the end of this semester. He exemplifies what it means to be a brother of Sigma Pi. With his efforts at his position, he has instilled in his Chapter a sense of brotherhood that is recognizable at first glance which has also been reflected in the sense of pride members have in their membership. Under Noah’s lead, the Chapter was able to extend bids to 20 new members, the largest new member class on campus by far, giving the Chapter the opportunity to double their size this semester. Aside from this the GPA of the Chapter sits above a 3.0 and is a small percentage away from landing them in the top 3 fraternities on campus academically.

Tier 3 – Wilson Love (Middle Tennessee State ’17)
Wilson had to take over Sage duties at the end of January 2018 while he was a sophomore. Since then, he has grown to be a true leader both in his Chapter as well as on campus. He has done an excellent job collaborating with the rest of his Executive Council and also by making sure the Chapter follows through with their plans. He not only oversees the Executive Council and helps with committees but rather looks out for each and every member of the Chapter on a personal level. Wilson has shown the meaning of brotherhood to his Chapter and combines it with being “True Blue” at MTSU. With the guidance and leadership from Wilson, the Chapter is excited for the academic year with the title of “IFC Chapter of the Year” at Middle Tennessee State University in their sights.

Tier 4 – Sebastian Belfonti (Indiana of Pennsylvania ’16)
Sebastian is in his last year at Indiana of Pennsylvania and is determined to leave his mark on Theta-Epsilon and his university. He is open-minded when it comes to trying new things to help the Chapter improve, and understands that times are changing and we need to change with it in order to thrive as a Fraternity. With this in mind, he has put the groundwork in place to help the Chapter thrive for years to come. Brothers have nothing but good things to say about Sebastian and the Greek Life advisor praised Sebastian for his involvement with the Student Life Office.

]]>2749Halloween Safety Tipshttps://theemerald.org/2018/10/11/halloween-safety-tips/
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:59:39 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2737EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published by Nationwide on blog.nationwide.com

Halloween is a night of fun and fright, but it does require extra caution when it comes to keeping your little monsters safe. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, and more than 70 percent of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.” Follow these Halloween safety tips to help avoid common accidents and dangers.

Trick-or-treating safety tips

1. Provide adult supervision

Trick or treat is safer – not to mention more fun – in groups, and adult supervision is essential. So get together with other adults and make an evening of it. Bring cellphones for quick pictures and emergencies, but leave them in your pockets to avoid getting distracted.

2. Stay on the sidewalks

The thrill of the holiday often factors into accidents as excited kids rush from door to door. Keep children on the sidewalks, and shepherd them carefully when they need to cross the road. In areas without sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road, facing traffic.

3. Carefully check candy

Check candy for choking hazards like gum and hard candies. Throw away any candy that is not sealed with a wrapper and avoid homemade treats received from strangers.

Costume safety tips

4. Choose bright, visible costumes

When selecting a costume, opt for the bright-colored outfits and add a touch of reflective tape to the material. Stick some reflective tape on their trick-or-treat bags as well so they can be easily spotted by motorists. Lastly, don’t forget to make sure they’re equipped with a flashlight or glow stick – must-have accessories for any costume.

5. Make sure costumes are well-fitted and safe

Being visible isn’t the only safety consideration for a costume. The right fit is just as important. Here’s some advice on keeping your child’s ensemble safe and secure:

Prevent accidental tripping or entanglement by making sure costumes aren’t too big or long

Avoid masks that block vision, but if your child wears one – it should have large eye, nose and mouth openings. You can also op for makeup or face paint as an alternative

Costumes, wigs and accessories should contain a label indicating they are flame resistant

Make sure accessories such as swords, canes, or sticks are not sharp or too long

6. Makeup safety

If makeup is a part of your child’s Halloween costume plans, make sure it is non-toxic and test it on a small area first. Before your child goes to bed, make sure to remove all makeup.

Home Safety Tips

7. Jack-o-lantern safety

Young children can paint or color their pumpkins instead of carving. Or have them draw a face with markers and an adult can do the carving. Use colorful glow sticks inside your Jack-o-lanterns instead of candles to prevent burns.

8. Home decoration safety

If you’re turning your home into a haunted house, keep safety in mind: make sure steps, sidewalks, porches and paths are well-lit and free of decorations and holiday props. Keep decorations away from fireplaces and candles.

9. Take precaution against pranks and vandalism

Unfortunately, vandalism often increases during Halloween. That’s why taking these precautions is a good idea:

If you’re going away during Halloween, make it seem like you’re still home by turning down the volume of your answering machine and phone, covering your garage windows, and leaving your curtains in normal positions with valuables out of sight.

Install outdoor lighting (activated by a photocell or movement) to illuminate the area around your home during Halloween.

Consider purchasing a security system that directly alerts police to intruders.

Trim shrubs and large trees before Halloween so trespassers have fewer hiding spots.

Car and driving safety tips

10. Use extra caution while driving

Drivers need to take particular care on this chaotic night. Keep your car parked if you can, but if you have to drive through a neighborhood, take it much slower than normal. Watch for kids who may dart between cars and into the road without looking. Read our Halloween Driving Safety Guide for more useful tips.

11. Protect your car

Cars are another common target of vandalism on Halloween. Here are some ways you can help secure your car:

Park inside if you can on Halloween. Your garage is your best bet. If you do not have a garage you may want to consider investing in some outdoor lighting for your driveway and yard.

Make sure your car is locked on Halloween. Oftentimes, vandals complete their missions with ease when doors are unlocked and windows are down/cracked.

]]>2737Keys to Finding Your Professional Identityhttps://theemerald.org/2018/10/11/keys-to-finding-your-professional-identity/
Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:56:44 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2740Each morning when I arrive at work, sit down in my office, and I start my computer I see the phrase “Be mindful even if your mind is full.” Usually, I am perplexed by the number of items on my list for the day or the number of meetings, but I know I have to continue to show respect, compassion, and intentionality. For me, the priority is students on a college campus seeking their sense of belonging outside of the classroom. A question my colleagues and I have discussed is, how can you show up in your career fully yourself, not your title, and be professional?

Being a professional in any career field or vocational area comes with its own set of successes, failures, and moment of insightful learning and growth. Navigating a new work environment, meeting new people, and learning a new place and city/town is a part of how our professional identity is shaped. There are three key strategies and reminders I have learned about being professional in the workplace. To me, they are the quintessential parts of comprising and learning more about who you are as a professional human.

Ground yourself in the experience even when times get tough. I share this thought with you first because I believe it’s one where individuals learn who they truly are as a professional. With all the parts of our jobs, the responsibilities and roles we are to act upon, there are and will be times where it would simply be better just to leave. Thankfully, we know these feelings about leaving can subside quickly if we just brave the storm we are facing. When you are facing times of trouble as a professional, write and reflect on what you are feeling, why you are feeling that way, and what you can do to assist in resolving it. It can be quite draining to plant your feet and stay when a difficulty occurs, but I believe this is where we define for ourselves and others our courage. In these situations, let vulnerability be your guide; you should let it show up in the form of courage. Let people know, respectfully, how you are feeling or what you are seeing and hearing. It is easy to leave a situation or role as a professional, but it is in our best interests as professional to ground ourselves in those moments to learn, grow, and mature.

Let people see the real, authentic you from day one. I said to my supervisor the other day, “Sometimes I feel like I am showing up as Kevin more than I am as the Associate Director, and I am 100% starting to realize that is okay!” I rely on being myself, Kevin, not my title in the work I do as a professional. Professionalism that is authentic is effective in the workplace. This kind of professionalism is the foundation of our relationship building with individuals and teams. You should ask yourself some of these questions about how you can show up as your one, true self and remain professional.

What one value is important to me in the workplace and how do I use this value in my words and actions daily?

What amount of personal information am I willing to share with colleagues and what are my boundaries?

After my time in the professional role I am serving in comes to an end, how would I want people to describe me as a person and professional?

Lead teams and individuals from behind-the-scenes. This might come as shocking news, but we should never believe that we as professionals are the center of attention. In fact, I believe professionalism is selfless. While you must take care of yourself as a professional, we must also show a level of care, compassion, and general interest in other’s professional growth. As supervisors and teammates in schools, businesses, industries, and institutions, how can you put others before you and learn to coach and affirm people from the sidelines? Professionalism is about knowing when to lead through an experience or responsibility and knowing when to coach and let someone learn through leading. Professionally, I find it easier to be my authentic self when I am coaching others through learning experiences. Individuals and teams who have this adopted as a part of their culture often times are comprised of selfless professionals. Be the reason somebody has an answer to a job interview question in the future.

As I am writing this, I have written down three new things for my to do list for the day, thought about a difficult conversation I need to have with someone, and realized I forgot my coffee at home. Yes, our minds are full of differing energies (positive and negative), but we still need to show up as professionals to lead, coach, and be courageous.

]]>2740College Town: WPI police officer honored for service to Sigma Pi Fraternityhttps://theemerald.org/2018/10/01/college-town-wpi-police-officer-honored-for-service-to-sigma-pi-fraternity/
Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:45:50 +0000https://theemerald.org/?p=2733Editors Note: The section below originally ran in an article on telegram.com and was written by Bonnie Russell.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus police Officer Robert Vandal never expected to be a fraternity advisor, let alone an award-winning one.

He has faithfully served as the advisor to Gamma Iota, WPI’s chapter of Sigma Pi, for almost a decade and a half and recently received the Dr. Robert L. Burns Award for his dedication.

Officer Vandal, who has spent more than four decades in public safety, the last 23 of them with campus police at WPI, became a familiar face to WPI’s fraternity community when he served as a liaison for campus Greek Life, giving safety talks and risk management training to each campus chapter. In 2004, a couple of members of Sigma Pi asked him to serve temporarily as their adviser.

“I didn’t know if I could do this as a police officer,” Mr. Vandal said, recalling that he checked with WPI Police Chief Cheryl A. Martunas and was given the go-ahead to assume the role of adviser, a position he thought would be very brief.

A few weeks turned into three months and then six months and finally Sigma PI announced it had arrived at a decision for a permanent adviser. Their choice surprised Mr. Vandal.

“They wanted me. I agreed to try it for a year,” Mr. Vandal said.

Fourteen years later, Mr. Vandal is still offering advice and serving as a liaison between the fraternity and the university, and, most important, being a mentor and offering a listening ear.

Not only do the fraternity members cherish his advice, they have welcomed him as a brother.

In 2008, Sigma Pi member David Magnano, then a WPI senior and now alumnus and New England province archon (a volunteer position as head of alumni volunteers for the New England Region), proposed that Mr. Vandal become a brother.

The vote was unanimous to extend an invitation to Officer Vandal, and after going through the proper channels he became a full-fledged brother of Sigma Pi and “he became my little brother,” Mr. Magnano said.

Almost 10 years later, Mr. Magnano nominated Mr. Vandal for the Burns award, a biennial award given to a fraternity adviser who increases and supports scholarship and/or enhances university relations, and who has a close relationship with his campus chapter.

Thomas White, president of WPI’s Gamma Iota Chapter of Sigma Pi, said of the relationship, it’s a “bond that is really special to a lot of members. We really like meeting Officer Vandal up on the hill. It really brightens our day.”

The feeling is mutual for Officer Vandal. “I’ve been an officer for 40 years and there are kids on campus who are 40 years younger. To think they choose to be a lifelong friend,” Mr. Vandal said, adding that after the students graduate many become his Facebook friends.